Moscovies with Potential Angel~Wing - Will plucking feathers help?

[kellyn]

Hey, I have 4 Muscovy Hens I bought in mid-march. They're gorgeous birds, but I believe one is beginning to sprout angel wing. The wings on her are a bit droopy and bow off to the side more than what's normal.

Would plucking the heavy feathers help any? They'll grow back when the bird is larger I know, but I was just wondering if it'd make her wings lighter? I'm going to catch her in about 4-5 hours from now and if it looks like it'll help, I'm going to do it.

I bought 4 other muscovies almost 2 weeks ago and they're just beginning to feather out. I'm also worried that their wings may do the same.. I have 12 pekin girls I bought 2 weeks after the first four, and their feathers don't show a single sign of droopiness. I raised them all together on Dumor Poultry Starter/Grower/Finisher and have been giving them layer crumbles/pelets with the chickens and adult ducks in the evenings. And dog food too. They are/were full fre-range 9-10 hrs every day. I'm limiting that now, to only 3-4 days a week.

Sooo, any answers will help. ^^ Thank-you!

 

[Amiga]

No, nothing I have seen or read indicates plucking would help with that at all.

Some are successful wrapping the wings, you just need to be sure not to wrap too tightly.

Just curious, since there is some disagreement about it, what % protein have they been fed with? May be hard to say if they free range. . . .

 

[kellyn]

I believe 16-18%. I'm going with game-bird feed this week. Purina brand. I feed the grower and bame bird feed to all my adolescent fowl. Ducks, chickens ad quail. I feed them all kinds of crapD lol. They get veggies and nectarines when I pick ones that taste funky. And kiwi peels too. (A favorite)

And here I thought they only got angel-wing when fed too much bread. :/ I made sure these didn't get much of that...

 

[Amiga]

From what I have seen, there are a few explanations about angel wing, one of which is that it is a genetic tendency that is expressed when a) too much protein is fed b) not enough protein is fed. sigh. To my simple mind, it just happens sometimes.

Anyway, there are a number of threads about wrapping angel wing. How are you with searching the forum?

 

[kellyn]

I didn't search the forum yet. But it's fine. I can always get more ducks. And I won't have a problem giving her to someone, if I decide I don't want her.

Btw, why do birds eat feathers?? Mine started feather-picking when they started growing in their own feathers.

I plucked 2 feathers off each wing and left them in the coop. The other birds(the muscovies, not the pekins) just ATE them! Chomped down a 6" feather... O_O straight up cannibals!

My gosh... is there something in the feathers that I'm not supplying, I wonder?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I didn't search the forum yet. But it's fine. I can always get more ducks. And I won't have a problem giving her to someone, if I decide I don't want her.
Btw, why do birds eat feathers?? Mine started feather-picking when they started growing in their own feathers.
I plucked 2 feathers off each wing and left them in the coop. The other birds(the muscovies, not the pekins) just ATE them! Chomped down a 6" feather... O_O straight up cannibals!
My gosh... is there something in the feathers that I'm not supplying, I wonder?

From all I've read about feather eating is it's a lack of protein, Mine get dried meal worms daily plus other bugs they scare up while foraging I haven't ever seen mine eat feathers. So maybe the extra protein they are getting is helping. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...how-we-wrap-to-mend-it-pictorial#post_8682154

 

[Amiga]

Another thing I recall from Storey's Guide is crowding can promote feather eating.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is so true Amiga I knew about it but forgot to post it.

 

[aoxa]

I had a goose with angel wing. Successfully wrapped it in 7 days Didn't restrict her at all, she swam, preened and didn't notice it one bit. I was really scared seeing it come in like that, because I paid a lot of money for her, but after the breeder explained how wrapping it will retrain it to grow the proper way, I felt better. It's a miracle! haha

 

[jdywntr]

I am unsure if you bought day olds in mid- March or if they were older. Regardless, are this hens flight feathers just growing in? If they are they can be VERY heavy. Your protein content seems good unless they are getting a ton of other things but if they free range for that long it shouldn't be that.

How long has this been going on? I have a gosling right now who's wings look horribly droopy because of the weight of the flight feathers. But day by day they are getting more back to normal.

To my knowledge, feather eating points to a protein problem if feathers are being plucked and eaten by other birds. During molting and growing you can also see birds eating feathers.

If this has only been going on for a few days, I'd wait to see if the wings correct themselves.